STORIES FROM THE WEB

Ethiopian Steeplechase Fail At The Olympics (Video)

Ethiopians have a reputation for being great long-distance runners, but when you throw a few hurdles into the mix, as the steeplechase event does, suddenly, they don’t appear to be so great anymore.

For evidence of that, look no further than Birhan Getahun, who slammed hard into the final hurdle during the second heat of the 3000-meter men’s steeplechase event earlier today at the 2012 London Olympics.

After receiving medical attention, Getahun had to be taken off the track in a wheelchair. Needless to say, his Olympics are over, although, they would have been over regardless of whether or not he made it over that final hurdle, as he was running in last place and was on pace to set the mark for the slowest time in all three heats.

Come to think of it, perhaps he would have been better off simply walking around that final hurdle, taking the disqualification, and saving himself the embarrassment. Sure, that type of act may not coincide with the ethos of the Olympic Games, but now he’ll have to live the rest of his life knowing that at one point the entire world was watching him get rejected by a hurdle.